2006 Audi A4 Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2014 Audi A4 as a used buy. A major player in the trio of prestigious German cars Audi has become very strong in Australia in recent times. The Audi A4 is a midrange model that’s sold as a sedan, a two-door cabriolet and an Avant station wagon.  A further

For years Audi struggled to gain equal footing with BMW and Mercedes in Australia, but that has all changed and sales have been climbing at double-digit rates for several years now. Though the Audi range is extensive and growing even larger all the time the A4, with its smaller brother the A3 at its side, has

You only have to look around you while parked in the daily traffic grind to know that Audi has made great strides in recent times; the multi-ringed badge of the German prestige brand is now a familiar sight on our roads. Where once Audis had a reputation for smoky engines and rusty bodywork they're now cars people

At the time of driving that A4 a great distance — and being impressed by nothing much other than its ability to use very little fuel while doing so — there were but a handful of diesels available.Twelve months on, and this hack alone has sampled no fewer than 24 of all shapes and sizes, from the merest Volkswagen Polo to the massive Mercedes-Benz GL.The latest of which just happens to be the second A4 diesel — one that is to its humbler diesel colleague what a fully fledged McLaren Vale shiraz is to a decent cleanskin red.Actually, the A4 3.0 TDI quattro is so accomplished and so satisfying, that to compare it only with other diesels would do it a disservice. Its versatility and sheer brio demands to be considered in the broader context of sporting sedans, no matter what type of juice they drink.If expectation (which was minimal in this case) is weighed against experience (not so much eyebrow-raising as dislocating) this model is not only the Audi of the year, but among the best unsung cars of 2006.Why not? One knew the RS4 was going to be Wagnerian, that the TT would be easy to like and the Q7 would be whatever it is people who want a 2.3-tonne SUV to be.First tested in August, the A4 performed with conviction and alacrity even on the icy mountain roads of Tasmania. Permanent all-wheel drive provided grip to rival that of a koala up a gum tree for tenacity as the A4 sliced through wet corners at more than double the recommended speed. Its readily tappable torque level was as mountainous as the scenery.Our co-driver — a scholarly gentleman from a noted performance-car magazine — asserted that the oiler was the "default S4".Indeed, we both felt the six-cylinder direct injection turbo diesel we had at our feet was a better thing 90 per cent of the time than Audi's own petrol V8.Mated to a six-speed tiptronic auto with sports program, the A4 could be driven with minimal inputs in "D", or vigorously via the gear-shifting paddles mounted on the steering wheel, automatic change-ups occurring only when the redline was reached.This is the ideal means by which to extract the utmost from the 171kW 3.0 litre TDI six, which also graces the bigger A6 sedan. Its take-no-prisoners 450Nm comes on stream from 1400rpm.Although the quattro system can't offset the A4's nose-heaviness, nor endow it with the peerless rear-wheel-drive dynamics of BMW's 3 Series sixes, the Audi's a sporting sedan for most people and most occasions.Two subsequent stints of Sydney driving have also marked it as a better daily-friendly device than its Bavarian neighbour, not least because the Audi employs conventional tyres, as opposed to the Bimmer's run-flats.Although run-flats are improving with each generation, NSW roads are not, and the less rigid sidewalls of the Audi's 17-inch, medium-profile shoes providea more forgiving ride — to say nothing of being more readily obtainable and less expensive.There's the piece of mind that comes from knowing that, should you shred a tyre while stranded far from civilisation, the Audi packs a full-size spare.The 3.0 TDI quattro combines typically Audi levels of understated class,first-class fit and finish with a massive bootage and wallet-friendly economy.Claimed fuel consumption for combined conditions is 8.4 litres per 100km. Even in unrelentingly urban driving, consumption stayed south of 14 litres per 100km. Maximum range is 750km.This from a six-cylinder engine moving a 1655kg kerb weight, and one that can — should the mood take you — get the A4 to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds.It's been but a few weeks since wewere spurting on about the Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro.Sorry about that, because even at its excruciating price point of $86,700, the A4 undercuts its marginally bigger sibling by about $15k — while filling a niche in which neither the C-Class Merc nor the 3 Series can offer an immediate rival.And, uniquely, there's no Volkswagen to undercut this Audi.Don't know what we'll be saying this time next year, but with the next generation mid-size Audi unlikely to reach these shores before 2008, this A4 model looks to have longevity to rival its range.

Normally noise is a negative factor for convertibles. Drive along at highway speeds with the top down and you will be doing damage to your eardrums in a convertible. Even with the top up, it can be noisy.There are many other problems associated with rag-top driving.For a start, convertibles don't handle as well as their sedan brothers because the chassis is not as taut.That's because there is a gaping hole where the roof is supposed to be keeping out the rain and UV rays while holding the car together. And the bigger the convertible, the worse the handling.Manufacturers add extra chassis stiffeners to convertibles to stop the body twisting, but this makes the vehicle heavier than the sedan. In the Audi, it's up to 170kg heavier, the weight of two adult male passengers.Then there is the lack of security of a rag top. Thieves can simply slash and grab.To overcome the problems of security, noise and handling, some manufacturers have chosen to go with a folding hard-top roof. But that also presents a problem. It takes up more boot space than the folding rag top (but not in the Mazda MX-5 and new BMW 3 Series).And despite the shift by their leading competitor BMW to a folding hard top, Audi has stayed with the rag top.And I applaud them for it.Because with the top up or down, you can hear that glorious Formula One-style growl from the twin exhaust. It's enough to drive a full-grown man to tears of joy.And if you are in the market for a convertible then you think with your heart, you are passionate about motoring and you value feelings more than practicalities.The Audi certainly fits the bill.Released in July, it comes with a choice of two engines: a 1.8 turbo with 120kW of power and 225Nm of torque or the 3.2 FSI petrol direct injection V6 with 188kW and 330Nm.The 1.8T is priced at $83,400 and the V6 is available for $107,800.I drove the V6 and, although there are shortcomings with handling, that exhaust note is an outstanding selling point. So is the power that comes on lightning fast at high revs which is where the exhaust really sings.The sedan comes in quattro or front-wheel drive; the cabrio is available in front-wheel drive, so dynamic handling is not as good.There is a mountain of torque steer (that's when the steering wheel pulls left or right under heavy acceleration).The effect is exacerbated by the instantaneous launch feeling of the V6. Torque steer is fairly typical of high-powered front-wheel drivers, but it can be engineered out as in the Mazda MPS.While the handling is not as good as the sedan, Audi has worked hard to make this car handle well — for a convertible.They have modified the dynamic suspension system, with A6 shock absorbers, four-link front suspension and the sporty S4's self-tracking rear trapezoidal-link and front track rods. But don't expect a rough ride.Audi has ensured that it sits flat in corners, but without sacrificing comfort. They have allowed some compliance in the springs and shocks and consequently there is some pitch on acceleration and braking, and scuttle shake over sharp bumps.Audi has also kept its eye on style, comfort and safety. It now comes with clear front and rear lights, rear diffuser and an abundance of aluminium trim.On the safety front it has Xenon Plus headlights with automatic beam angle adjustment and daytime driving lights (optional for the 1.8T). Adaptive headlights that swivel to follow the corner are available as options.There are two-stage driver's airbag and side airbags, improved side impact protection and active roll-over protection system with two roll-over bars that project behind the rear seats for extra peace of mind.On the comfort front, the supportive front seats are heated. And doesn't that give you a warm feeling?Fast factsAudi A4 Cabrio 3.2Price: $107,800Engine: 3.1-litre, FSI petrol direct injection V6, 188kW@6500rpm, 330Nm@3250rpmTransmission: 7-speed continuously variable multitronic auto, front-wheel driveWheels/tyres: 17-inch alloys; 235/45 R 17, 5-parallel spokeFuel: 9.7L/100km combined claimed

It delivers 171kW at 3500rpm to 4000rpm and the real fun comes with the 450Nm coming on at a low 1400rpm to 3250rpm.Audi claims this engine is the most powerful six-cylinder diesel engine in its class and also one of the lightest diesels in the world. But the fun and the upper-class looks of this Audi comes at a price, $86,700 to be precise.It goes up against rivals such as the BMW 320d and the Chrysler 300C, which are both cheaper but by the time you add some options, you're not far off.And the BMW offers a less impressive performance, with only a four-cylinder engine, and while the diesel 300C has good figures, it is a lot bigger on the road, compared with Audi's more compact sedan.Audis A6 model, sharing the same turbo diesel engine, took the award for the best luxury car over $57,000 at Australia's best car awards last year. In the A4, it sprints to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds and offers a good performance and good fuel economy, all wrapped up in a package that delivers surprisingly little noise. Although no need to fret, a revving growl is still present and impresses as you launch from a standstill.This turbocharged V6 engine uses the latest-generation common rail technology and piezo injectors, as well as twin intercoolers in the turbocharging.It also provides the security of the quattro all-wheel-drive system.Fitted to a six-speed automatic transmission with tiptronic functions and steering-wheel mounted paddles for quick shifting, this diesel A4 has comfortable and dynamic handling, although it does feel a little firm oncity roads.Its extra fun when slipping the smooth slider into the sporty "S" mode, as it holds on to the gears a bit longer, like music to your ears. But the steering feels too light and mundane and takes away some of the fun.The benefits of a diesel are evident when looking at the fuel economy of the Audi. The official claimed fuel consumption of the A4's latest edition is 8.4 litres per 100km and our test showed it to be accurate, with even better figures reaching below 8 litres per 100km.Audi's smaller 2.0-litre A4 petrol model produces similar figures, with a claimed 8.3 litres per 100km, but doesn't have such an inspiring performance as its diesel sibling.And as can be expected, the Audi offers all the elegance of a classy, luxury car, the only way to really contrast such an impressive engine. These features include leather interior, electric front seats, wood trim and cruise control, to name a few.But while the package has an aura of classiness and elegance, it is plain in design. There is also limited leg room in the back and the car could do with some more storage compartments in the front.The A4 comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, parking sensors, automatic windscreen wipers, a front centre armrest, and a good sound system with 10 speakers.It looks sporty in appearance with an attractive single frame grille on the front and features high levels of safety, including Electronic Stability Program, anti-lock braking system and brake assist. It also has front, side and curtain airbags.Open the boot, and the A4 has plenty of storage space, as well as a full-size spare.

Boasting the sporty three-litre V6 TDi engine, which powered the A6 to a "Best Luxury Car over $57,000" gong in Australia's Best Car awards last year, the A4, priced at $86,700, delivers as "the most-powerful six-cylinder TDi in the B-segment".The C220CDi Mercedes-Benz diesel offers 110kW and 430Nm, while the newly introduced BMW 320d produces 115kW and 330Nm, although both are four-cylinder offerings.The new Audi V6 powerplant is a common-rail direct injection unit that uses piezo injectors (voltage-activated injectors that are very quick and precise) and runs 1600bar of pressure in the fuel delivery system.Multiple fuel injections per cycle and two intercoolers for the single turbocharger are among the other engine bay highlights.With 171kW of power and 450Nm of torque on tap, six-speed tiptronic transmission and speed-sensitive power steering, the A4 seamlessly (and frugally) cruises but has the capacity to reach 100km/h in 7.5 seconds.Similarly, the $210,000 supercar A8, with its all-new 4.2-litre, eight-cylinder twin-turbo engine, lightweight Audi space frame and quattro all-wheel drive, also turns it on.The turbodiesel V8 comes from the same family as the new V6 in the A4, using the same high-pressure common-rail direct-injection principles, and boasts a weight of 255kg, down by 15kg over its smaller predecessor.Like the A4, the engine is of low-weight, compact design, with Audi claiming a new benchmark in acoustics.The V8 has two turbochargers, with variable turbine geometry, assisting in reducing lag and generating higher torque at lower engine speeds, as well as two intercoolers.With 240kW and 650Nm the high-performance limousine accelerates from 0 to 100 in just 5.9sec.The new powerplant is so quiet it's easy to forget you are driving a diesel.The A8's 4.2 TDi engine's twin-pipe exhaust system is also equipped with a diesel particulate filter — made to last the lifetime of the vehicle without additives or servicing — which further decreases the engine's emissions, which in greenhouse terms are already low.And while Australian motorists do not have the privilege of discounted diesel prices, rebated registrations and the reduced taxation offered to their European counterparts, the models' fuel economy is incentive enough.Averaging 8.4 litres per 100km under Australian Standards testing, the A4 offers around 750km per tank; with just 9.7 litres per 100km fuel consumption, the A8 pushes close to 1000km.Both models feature electric front seats complete with electric lumbar support and leather upholstery.Positioned behind the sports leather steering wheels, driving from Hobart to Launceston was a pleasure.Travelling vast highways, curly mountain roads and even navigating unsealed stretches in winter conditions with ease, both the A4 and A8 lived up to the expectation that the sporty-yet-safe luxury models would be smooth operators.

Like sister company Volkswagen, Audi sees diesel as the way to go forward in Australia. Volkswagen's diesel sales results speak for themselves. The company's Golf diesel has been selling great guns, with oil burner sales accounting for more than half of Golf sales in certain months last year.Audi already offers a diesel in both the A3 and the A6 (diesel makes up about 35 per cent of total A6 sales) and by April will add a 171kW 3.0-litre A4 TDI and a 4.2-litre V8 TDI A8.The recently launched 2.0-litre A4 TDI is the entry-level diesel in the A4 range.Audi expects this new A4 model will account for about 250 units of A4 sales. And at $56,990, a price that would have to be at least $15,000 cheaper than the coming 3.0-litre TDI A4 and $11,500 cheaper than its closest competitor the Mercedes-Benz C220 CDi, the A4 TDI is appealing.For those who want a comfortable cruiser equipped with the Audi badge and all the attributes that come with the four rings, the TDI fulfils its role well.It may not be the best diesel going around but it is quiet and does its job well. Apart from a slight hesitation on take-off, the TDI moves up to speed swiftly and smoothly with little noise interruption in the cabin.The constantly variable transmission (CVT) is refined with quick and clean gear changes, although balks a bit when quick acceleration is needed for overtaking.Audi's infamous DSG box would be a ripper with the diesel, but with a sports and manual shift option, the CVT does well to use the engine's capabilities.The TDI is not a sporty ride (it's not supposed to be) and the tiptronic option does little to improve that.As with all diesels, the 103kW power figure is somewhat irrelevant. It is all about the torque and the TDI has plenty of that. The four-cylinder turbocharged diesel produces 320Nm of torque between 1750rpm and 2500rpm, with the bulk of that from 2000rpm.The steering is a little light and uncommunicative but the TDI holds on well on a twisty road. It is, however, when cruising the open road and the freeway where with the needle sitting under 2000revs at 110km/h, and the average fuel consumption hovering around 6.4 and 7.0 litres every 100km, it becomes hard not to have a smile on the dial.With the bundles of torque available the needle rarely goes over 2500rpm at all. The ride is more firm than not but the comfortable seats save the backside from the hourly sleep. And, the height and reach-adjustable steering makes finding a comfortable driving position easy. Rear-seat legroom is reasonable and again the seats are both supportive and comfortable.Like even the most sophisticated of diesels, the A4 is still slightly noisy on start-up when standing outside.The sensible and stylish cabin is appealing. The black interior with chrome/metallic highlights and the red-lit instrumentation is stylish while the quality and soft-feel materials and Volterra leather upholstery give the TDI a luxurious finish.The car comes with lots of bits and pieces, although paying for the ability to fold the rear seats is a bit rough.It sits on 16-inch alloys and has all the safety attributes one expects from the four-ringed badge, including active front head restraints, eight airbags, electronic stability program which incorporates ABS, electronic differential lock (EDL), anti-slip regulation (ASR), a brake-disc wiping system and brake assist.Adjustable and heated power mirrors, fog lights at the front and the rear, DataDot microdot identification, centre armrest, leather steering wheel with audio and cruise controls and a 10-speaker CD system are just a few of the additives that make the A4 a typical Audi.Other features include automatic airconditioning with separate dual-climate control for driver and front passenger and the driver information system with trip computer.